Luis Rubiales resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on September 10, 2023, after weeks of controversy over his unwanted kiss with Women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Luis Rubiales said that he was resigning because he did not want to “harm Spanish football” with the ongoing controversy. He also said that he was confident that he would be able to clear his name of any wrongdoing.
“I have faith in the future, I have faith in the truth,” Luis Rubiales said. “I will defend my honorability. I will defend my innocence.”
Rubiales’ resignation came after a number of high-profile players, including Hermoso, had called for him to step down. The Spanish government had also called for an investigation into the matter.
The kiss between Luis Rubiales and Hermoso took place during the awards ceremony after Spain won the Women’s World Cup in July. Hermoso said that she did not consent to the kiss and that she felt “humiliated” by it.
Rubiales has denied that the kiss was unwanted and has said that he was simply trying to congratulate Hermoso. However, the controversy has damaged his reputation and led to his resignation.
Rubiales’ resignation is a major blow to the RFEF. He was a popular figure and had been in charge of the federation for five years. He had overseen a period of success for Spanish football, with the men’s and women’s national teams both winning major trophies.
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